run scored

John Doe

John Dogget

pitcherchange

John Doe

Stat Definition:

A strike zone analysis for a hitter showing his batting average in eight different zones versus the handedness of the current pitcher.

All visualizations are seen from the pitcher's perspective.

In certain circumstances there may not be relevant player data to calculate a particular stat.

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Stat Definition:

A hitter's spray chart illustrating where he puts the ball in play.

In certain circumstances there may not be relevant player data to calculate a particular stat.

In certain circumstances there may not be relevant player data to calculate a particular stat.

In certain circumstances there may not be relevant player data to calculate a particular stat.

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Stat Definition:

A hitter's scouting report including batting average, slugging, and home runs against the different pitch types used by the current pitcher.

In certain circumstances there may not be relevant player data to calculate a particular stat.

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Stat Definition:

Homerun Analysis shows pitch type and pitch location for a batter's recent home-runs. Stats can contain homerun location from the previous season to show trends.

In certain circumstances there may not be relevant player data to calculate a particular stat.

Thursday, May 8th, 2014

Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox

Scheduled Start Time: 8:10 PM ET

U.S. Cellular Field

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Cubs swept their four-game season series with the White Sox a year ago.

Now the White Sox will try to do the same on Thursday, as the Windy City rivals wrap up a four-game home-and-home set at U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox won the first two legs of this matchup at Wrigley Field earlier in the week then secured the Crosstown Cup on Wednesday, as Gordon Beckham and Paul Konerko each drove in three runs, while Beckham homered for the second straight game in an 8-3 win.

Jose Abreu had three hits with two runs scored and he and Konerko both doubled twice in the fourth straight White Sox triumph. The winning streak comes on the heels of four consecutive losses.

All eight Sox runs came in the first five innings against Travis Wood (2-4), who went four-plus and yielded eight hits and five walks with just three strikeouts.

Wood's counterpart John Danks (3-2) did his job for the White Sox, holding the crosstown rivals to three runs on four hits while fanning eight over six innings.

'I was able to stay a little more within myself and for that I had better control,' said Danks, referring to his last start where he was touched for eight runs on 10 hits in a loss at Cleveland.

The White Sox bullpen continued to impress, as it stretched its scoreless innings streak to 20 1/3 frames. The group hasn't allowed a hit in the last seven frames and has pitched to a 0.48 ERA over the last 11 games.

Getting the call for the White Sox on Thursday will be righty Scott Carroll, who is 1-1 and has allowed just one earned run in 13 1/3 innings of two starts. Carroll lost to Cleveland on Saturday, as he surrendered two unearned runs and five hits in six innings.

'He knows how to pitch,' White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. 'Sometimes guys don't throw 95 (mph), but somehow it just seems to jump on them. He's done great. It's been impressive to see him come in here and take a shot at it, grab a hold of it.'

The Cubs, who have lost four in a row, will turn to righty Jake Arrieta, who will be making his second start of the season. Arrieta returned from a bout of shoulder tightness and received a no-decision against St. Louis on Saturday, despite scattering four hits in 5 1/3 scoreless frames of his team's 3-0 win. He also struck out seven batters.

'I thought he maintained his strength throughout,' Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of Arrieta. 'Coming back from such an extended recovery, we were going to make sure we took care of him.'

Arrieta is 1-1 with a 5.17 ERA in three starts against the White Sox.

The White Sox have won three consecutive games against the Cubs for the first time since May 5-18, 2012.